‘It’s very difficult to build a building for these quakes, they are really earthquakes that release huge amounts of energy. These shocks have not been this strong in Turkey since 1939, some buildings actually survive these types of earthquakes, especially buildings with critical functions.’
Precious
However, hospitals also collapsed in the quake, which had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. Building impact-resistant like they do in Japan or Chile is entirely possible, Hendriks says, but it’s also very expensive. “It’s about some shock absorbers in the foundation, but you have to take that into account in the design. What makes it even more complex are the skyscrapers, where you have the most strength.’
Hendriks finds it difficult to say whether the still existing buildings have “survived”. “They can also be damaged. It’s very important to determine if they are safe. They are probably even partially damaged.”
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